CA2120940C - Telecommunications terminal block - Google Patents
Telecommunications terminal block Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2120940C CA2120940C CA002120940A CA2120940A CA2120940C CA 2120940 C CA2120940 C CA 2120940C CA 002120940 A CA002120940 A CA 002120940A CA 2120940 A CA2120940 A CA 2120940A CA 2120940 C CA2120940 C CA 2120940C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- terminal block
- base
- connector
- driver
- driver module
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/18—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges with means for reducing interference or noise; with means for reducing effects due to line faults with means for protecting lines
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
- H01R13/5216—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
- H01R4/2416—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type
- H01R4/242—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type the contact members being plates having a single slot
- H01R4/2425—Flat plates, e.g. multi-layered flat plates
- H01R4/2429—Flat plates, e.g. multi-layered flat plates mounted in an insulating base
- H01R4/2433—Flat plates, e.g. multi-layered flat plates mounted in an insulating base one part of the base being movable to push the cable into the slot
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q1/00—Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
- H04Q1/02—Constructional details
- H04Q1/028—Subscriber network interface devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04Q—SELECTING
- H04Q1/00—Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
- H04Q1/02—Constructional details
- H04Q1/14—Distribution frames
- H04Q1/142—Terminal blocks for distribution frames
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
- H01R13/665—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit
- H01R13/6666—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in electronic circuit with built-in overvoltage protection
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R2201/00—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications
- H01R2201/16—Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications for telephony
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
- H01R4/24—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands
- H01R4/2404—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation
- H01R4/2408—Connections using contact members penetrating or cutting insulation or cable strands the contact members having teeth, prongs, pins or needles penetrating the insulation actuated by clamping screws
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R9/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, e.g. terminal strips or terminal blocks; Terminals or binding posts mounted upon a base or in a case; Bases therefor
- H01R9/22—Bases, e.g. strip, block, panel
- H01R9/24—Terminal blocks
- H01R9/2425—Structural association with built-in components
- H01R9/2441—Structural association with built-in components with built-in overvoltage protection
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Connections Arranged To Contact A Plurality Of Conductors (AREA)
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
- Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)
- Motor Or Generator Frames (AREA)
- Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
- Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
- Exchange Systems With Centralized Control (AREA)
Abstract
Insulation displacing connectors (24) of an "inverted" type extend upwardly from a base (14) of the terminal block (12) into connector chambers (66) of driver modules (50) movable relative to the base (14) between upper and lower positions. Passageways (70) within the modules (50) direct service wires (46) moved through the passageways (70) into the connec-tor chambers (66) and into entrance openings (30) un-derlying upper edge portions (28) of the insulation displacing connectors (24) within the chambers (66).
Description
wo 93io~6sa ~c~ius~ziosaaz 21~094~
TEILECO(WMlJIdICATI~NS TERIVIINAL EL~CK
This invention relates to terminal blocks used by telecommunication companies to connect conductor wires of a multi-core cable to service wires that extend to customer residences or places of business. The invention more specifically relates to an improved terminal block of the type that contains is viscous sealant material.
A terminal block of the aforesaid type is usually mounted outdoors. Even Zo when surrounded by a protective housing, it is exposed to rain, snow, sleet, ice, temperat,~re fluctuations, dirt, insect infestation and similar conditions that may adversely affect the electrical connections between the service wires and electrical connectors, which may be of the insulation displacing type, within the blocks. To minimize incursion of foreign matter, viscous sealing material has 25 heretofore been provided within interior areas of prior art terminal blocks. The protection afforded by the sealant material usually is adequate for as long as the original connections between the service wires and the associated insulation displacing connectors remain undisturbed, but has heretofore rapidly decreased in proportion to the number of times that the connections are re-so entered (i.e, broken and reestablished) by a telecommunications craftsperson.
The decreasing protection is due to the fact that each re-entry displaces some of the sealant and causes the formation therein of voids that permit ingress of air, dirt, moisture, insects and the like. The use of sealant of the gel type minimizes the size of such voids but does not entirely eliminate their formation.
The present invention provides an improved telecommunications terminal block, of the type containing protective viscous sealant material, that is WO 93/07654 PCT/1JS92/~8442 21~t~'~40 of compact, durable and economical construction; can be re-entered a large number of times without significant decrease in the efficacy of the protection afforded by the sealant material; provides overvoltage protection when that is desired; and that can be readily installed and used by a craftsperson upon a s telephone pole or in other exposed locations to connect servile wires having a wide range of gauges.
in its preferred embodiment the terminal block includes an elongate base that is adapted to be secured to a telephone pole or other supportive structure, and further includes at least one and usually a plurality of driver modules that io are mounted upon the base in laterally adjacent relationship to each other for individual movement relative to the base between first (illustratively upper) and second (illustratively lower) positions respectively distal from and close to the base. A plurality of pairs of insulation displacing connectors, which may be and preferably are of a novel "inverted" type, projects upwardly from the base at is spaced intervals along its length. Lower portions of the connectors are pre-joined to appropriate ones of the wires of a multi-core cable that extends into an interior part of the base filled with conventional potting material. The sections of the paired first and second connectors projecting from the base extend into respective first and second connector for chambers of an overlying one of the ao driver modules upon the base. First and second pump chambers within the driver module communicate with respective ones of the connector chambers.
First and second passageways extending from an outer surface.of the module into the connector chambers direct the ends of first and second insulated service wires, that are inserted into and advanced longitudinally of such 25 passageways by a craftsperson while the module occupies its upper position, into respective first and second ones of the chambers and into entrance openings of respective first and second ones of the insulating displacing connectors within the chambers. Movement of the driver module from its upper position to its lower position displaces the two insulated service wires so downwardly into the connectors and establishes electrical contact with respective ones of them. In the case of heavily insulated service wires, the downward module movement also impales the insulation of the service wires upon retainer elements that resist their axial pull-out. The connector chambers, ., pump chambers and service wire passageways of each module contain 35 protective sealant material, which preferably is of the gel. type. When the module includes an overvoltage limiting device, the space within which it is located preferably also contains sealant material.
WO 93/07654 PC.T/US92/08442 2~.209~0 -Each entry of the module disturbs the sealant to some extent, and may create undesirable voids therein. Sealant pump means are provided to compensate for the sealant disturbance, and to eliminate or at least reduce the size of voids created thereby in the sealant. The pump means includes the first s and second sealant pump chambers in each driver module that communicate with respective first and second ones of the connector'chambers and the service wire passageways of the module, and that contain reserve sealant. The sealant pump means further includes pump piston elements that extend upwardly from the base of the terminal block into aligned ones of the pump io chambers of an overlying driver module upon movement of the modcle from its upper position to its lower position. The aforesaid pump means drives enough reserve sealant material from the pump chambers into the connector chambers and service wire passageways as to eliminate or at least reduce the size of any voids present therein by reason of prior re-entries. The downward module is movement also causes engagement of tip and ring contacts upon an overvoltage limiting device with spring contacts upon the insulation displacing connectors, and also establishes contact with a ground bus upon the base.
At least part of each driver module preferably is formed of transparent material permitting exterior viewing of interior components, such as the ao aforesaid overvoltage limiting device, and monitoring of the correct insertion of the insulated service wires within the connector chambers and connector members of such driver module.
Engageable and disengageable latch means, which includes cooperating latch elements upon each module and upon the base of the 2s terminal block, prevent inadvertent complete removal of a module from the base and provide tactile feedback of the module's arrival at its upper position.
Movement of the module from its lower position to its upper position aligns each service wire with a service wire entrance opening of an 'associated one of the connectors.
so ~To narrow their width and reduce costs, each module preferably is cantilever mounted upon the base, and is driven from its upper position to its lower position by a thread-forming screw that extends through a bore of a mounting chamber adjacent the rear end of the module, and then into an initially unthreaded underlying bore in the base of the terminal block. The se screw is sequestered from the sealant material within the module, and therefore does not shear or otherwise disturb the sealant.
Each of the insulation displacing connectors preferably is of an "inverted" type having an upper edge portion that extends between and interconnects upper ends of opposite side edge portions of the connector. A service wire entrance opening in adjacent underlying relationship to the aforesaid upper edge portion of the connector is adapted to initially receive, preferably at an angle of about 30°, the insulated service wire associated with the connector. Each service wire is displaced downwardly from the aforesaid entrance opening into and through a slot extending downwardly from the opening and having longitudinal sections of successively narrower width. Each connector preferably has, adjacent the lower end of the aforesaid slot, a retainer element that impales the insulation upon and thus resists axial pullout of a heavily insulated service wire, and further has a contact that is engaged by a contact of the overvoltage limiting device when the module occupies its lower position.
An upper edge portion of at least one of the two connector chambers of each driver module preferably has a section that slopes so as to cause a thereto connected test clip to extend angularly away from the chamber and from a test clip upon the adjacent chamber. This prevents shorting of the clips against each other.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications terminal block comprising: a base; a driver module; mounting means adjacent one end of said driver module, said mounting means cantilever mounting said driver module upon said base for movement relative to said base between first and second positions along a movement axis; said mounting means including a mounting post upon said base and a mounting portion of said driver module, said mounting post and mounting portion being movable relative 4a to each other, said mounting portion being configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while said driver module is moved between said first and second positions.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications terminal block comprising: a base including a mounting post; a driver module including a mounting portion and having a first position adjacent the base and a second position displaced from the base relative to the first position; a rotatable fastener cantilever mounting the driver module to the base adjacent one end of said driver module for movement of the driver module between the first and second positions along a movement axis; and wherein the mounting post and the mounting portion are movable relative to each other along the movement axis and wherein the mounting portion is configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while the driver module is moved between the first and second positions.
Description of the Drawin s FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a terminal block in accordance with the invention and of service wires extending into driver modules thereof, the rightmost driver module being shown in its upper position and the remaining driver modules being shown in their lower positions;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the terminal block;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 through the rightmost driver module of FIG. 1, which is shown in its upper position, the associated service wires being 4b shown at a location preliminary to their insertion into the module;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FTG. 3, but taken in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FTG. 1 and showing the driver module and service wires in their lower positions;
FIG. 5 is a front, right, top isometric view of the terminal block wherein the rightmost driver module and components thereof are shown in exploded relationship;
WO 9!07654 PCTf US92108442 ~120~40 FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a driver module;
FIG. 7 is a view showing at its left side a top plan view of a driver module, at its right side a top plan view of the part of the base underlying a driver module, and showing in its central portion and primarily in horizontal section s components of the driver module and some associated components carried by the base of the terminal block; ' F1G. 8 is a front elevational view of one of the insulation displacing connectors of the terminal block;
FIG. 9 is a laterally foreshortened view partially in elevation and partially io in vertical section of test clips secured to upper end portions of driver module connector chambers and therein disposed insulation displacing connectors;
FIGS. 10a, b, and c are fragmentary front eievational views of the insulation displacing connector of Fig. 8 showing sequential positions occupied by a heavily insulated service wire during movement thereof from an upper part i5 to a lower part of the connector;
FIGS. 11 a, b, and c are front elevational views of the connector of Fig. 8, showing sequential positions occupied by a lightly insulated service wire during movement thereof from an upper part to a lower part of the connector, and also showing a conductor of the multi-wire bundle within the base of the terminal 2o block;
FIG. 12 is a front elevational view shawing preferred dimensions and angulations of the illustrated insulation displacing connector;
FIG. 13 is a right side elevational view of the connector shown in Fig. 12;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged, front elevational view showing additional 2s preferred dimensions and angulations of that part of the connector within the area bordered by the phantom line A in Fig. 12;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing additional preferred dimensions of that part of the connector bordered by the phantom line S in Fig. 12;
so FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, showing additional preferred dimensions and taken in the direction of the arrows 18 through the connector of Fig. 12;
FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view, rotated 30° in a clockwise direction, showing additional preferred dimensions and taken approximately s5 along the line and in the direction of the arrows 17 through the connector of Fig.
12; and WO 93/0'1654 P(.'T/US92/Of3442 ~12Q~~~
FIG. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but showing an alternative embodiment.
jZe~rir~tion of the Preferred Embodiment ~ __-The terminal block identified in its entirety in the drawings by the .numeral 12 includes an elongate base 14 that may be of any desired length. Base 14 illustratively extends horizontally and is of generally rectangular shape.
A.multi-io core cable 16 extends into a rearward section of base 14 from one end of the base. A plurality of bosses 18 projects upwardly from base 14 at laterally spaced locations along its length. Each boss 18 has a fow barrier wall 20 that extends transversely across a central part of the boss and rearwardly from it.
First and second slots 22 upon opposite sides of the wall 20 of each boss 18 is extend vertically through such boss and the upper wall of base 14. The first and second slots 22 within each boss 18 respectively lie in generally vertical first and second planes that extend i;~ substantially parallel transversely spaced relationship to each other, and in nonparallel relationship to a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of base 14.
2o First and second insulation displacing connectors 24 extend vertically through respective ones of the first and second slots 22 in each boss 18. Each connector 24 preferably is formed of beryllium copper alloy No. C17200 that has an extra hard temper and a minimum yield of 165 Ksi. The lower section of each connector 24 within base 14 is connected to an appropriate one of the 2s wires 16' of cable 16, after which the interior of the base is filled with a suitable potting material. This preferably is done at the location where bases 14 are fabricated.
As is best shown in Figs. .8, 10 and 11, the part of each connector 24 above base 14 has longitudinally extending opposite side edge portions 26 that sa constitute primary spring elements of the connector. Connector 24 further has an upper edge) portion 28 that interconnects the upper ends of side edge portions 26 and stiffens them to such an extent as to eliminate the need for "stop" members that limit outward movement of edge portions 26. A service wire entry opening 30 in adjacent underlying relationship to upper edge portion 35 28 extends transversely through each connector 24. Lower edge portions 31 of opening 30 have upwardly facing sharp cutting surfaces. A vertical slot 32 within the central part of connector 24 communicates at its upper end with opening 30 and extends downwardly from it. Slot 30 decreases in width from its upper to its tower end, and terminates above an upwardly extending impaling element 34 of the connector. The opposite sides of slot 32 are bordered by confronting edges of elongate secondary spring elements 38 that extend s downwardly in cantilever fashion from the upper part of connector 24, have free rounded lower ends, and are bordered along most of their length by a generally kidney-shaped opening 42 of connector 24. During use of connector 24, spring elements 26 and 38 undergo resilient lateral bending movement. The secondary spring elements 38 also undergo torsional flexure about their to longitudinal axes. A contact element 44 having a downwardly sloping upper surtace projects outwardly from each connector 24 below impaling element 34.
The illustrated connector 24 is particularly suited for use with insulated service wires ranging from eighteen and one-half gauge copper coated steel conductors through twenty-four gauge solid copper. It has a thickness of is twenty-thousandths of an inch.
The entry opening 30 of each connector 24 is adapted to receive service wires 46 as heavily insulated as that shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 10, or as lightly 2o insulated as that of the service wire shown in Fig. 11. Whether heavily or lightly insulated, the service wires 46 introduced into entry opening 30 of a connector 24 preferably define an entry angle with the cannector that is substantially less than 90° and preferably is about 30°.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 10a. 10b and 10c, the relatively heavy Zs insulation of the illustrated service wire 46 introduced into opening 30 and then moved downwardly therefrom is initially cut by the sharp edges 31 adjacent the bottom of opening 30. As service wire 46 is displaced downwardly into and through slot 32, the thereto adjacent confronting edges of secondary spring elements 38 engage, as shown in Fig. 10b, the central metal conductor of so service wire 46. Final downward movement of the service wire impales its insulation upon the impaling element 34 underlying slot 32, as shown in dig.
10c. Movement of the heavily insulated service wire 46 into and through slot deflects spring elements 26, 38 outwardly, and also causes torsional deflection of secondary spring elements 38. The torsional deflections of spring elements ss 38 contribute significantly to the fact that such elements are not strained beyond their elastic limits by passage of heavily insulated service wires 46 through slot 32. Upon return movement of service wire 46 upwardly to opening 30 the 4 PCT/US92/0~442 spring elements therefore resiliently return to their undeflected positions shown in Figs. 8 and 10a.
When the service wire 46 is relatively lightly insulated, such as shown in -Figs. 11 a, 11 b and 11 c, downward movement thereof from entry opening 30 s into slot 32 occurs with little if any engagement between wire 46 and sharp edges 31 of opening 30. Substantially all of the cutting of ttie insulation of the lightly insulated service wire is done by the confronting edges of secondary spring elements 38. The primary spring elements 26 undergo little if any deflection, and the lowermost positirn of the lightly insulated service wire 46 is to considerably above impaling element 34, as shown in Fig. 11c. Service wires having insulation of a size intermediate that of the illustratedyheavily and lightly insulated wires 46 will produce spring element deflections intermediate those produced by the wires shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
A plurality of driver modules 50 is mounted in laterally adjacent is relationship to each other along the length of base 14 for vertical movement relative to the illustratively horizontally extending base and to each other between a first, illustratively upper position and a second, illustratively lower position. The modules preferably are formed of transparent durable plastic such as LEXAN~. Each module 50 is cantilever mounted upon a rearward part 20 of base 14 by mounting means that includes a mounting chamber 54 within the rear part of the module, and an underlying mounting past 56 that extends upwardly from base 14 into the therewith vertically aligned chamber 54. The mounting means further includes a rotatable fastener 58, which illustratively and preferably is a thread-forming screw, having a driver head that overlies the 2s upper surtace of chamber 54. A threaded shank of fastener 58 extends through a bore 60 in the chamber's top wall, a captive washer 61 and into an initially unthreaded axially aligned bore within the post 56 underlying chamber 54.
Rotation of fastener 58 in the appropriate "tightening°' direction forms screw threads in the bore of post 56 and drives module 50 downwardly from its upper so position shown in Fig. 3 to its lower position, shown in Fig. 4, wherein the upper wall of chamber 54 abuts the upper surface of mounting post 56. Return upward movement of module 50 is effected, when desired, by reverse rotation of fastener 58. Canting or tilting of module 50 during and following vertical movement thereof is prevented by, among other things, engagement between 35 the exterior surtaces of mounting post 56 and the complementarily shaped confronting inner surfaces of mounting chamber 54.
WO 93/07654 9 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/US92/08442 Engageable and disengageable latch means prevent inadvertent removal of each driver module 50 from base 14, while permitting movement of the module relative to the base from the module's upper position shown in Fig.
3 to its lower position shown in Fig. 4. The latch means includes resilient latch s elements 62 that extend vertically in laterally spaced and generally parallel relationship to the front and rear surfaces of each module 50 and that are permanently connected intermediate their length to the module. The .latch means further includes cooperating latch elements 64 that are connected to and extend forvirardly and rearwardly from base 14. Curing initial installation of a io module 50 upon base 14, downward movement of the module causes the lower end of each latch element 62 to engage a sloping cam surface upon an underlying latch element 64. The elements 62 are rammed outwardly by such engagement, and then resiliently return to a position beneath latch element 64.
The latch elements 62, 64 then permit movement of the module 50 between its is upper position of Fig. 3 and its lower position of Fig. 4, but prevent inadvertent complete withdrawal of the module from base 14. The latches also provide tactile feedback, in the form of increased resistance to reverse rotation of screw 58, that lets a telecommunications craftsperson know when a module reaches its upper position. Tactile feedback of arrival of the module at its lower position 2o is provided by the then increased resistance to tightening rotation of fastener 58.
The first and second insulation displacing connectors 24 extending upwardly from each boss 18 upon base 14 are received within respective first and second laterally adjacent connector chambers 66 that extend vertically 2s through each module 50. The two chambers 66 are laterally separated from each other by a vertical barrier wall 90 best shown in Fig. 6. Wall 90 is formed of dielectric plastic material and overlies the wall 20 of the adjacent boss upon base 14. Chambers 66 are forwardly of and in noncommunicating relationship with the module chamber 54 through which fastener 58 extends.
so As i~ best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the width of each chamber 66 decreases with increasing distance from the lower end to the upper end of the connector 24 within the chamber. Adjacent its upper end each chamber 66 has a wider test port area 66a. The two connectors 24 within each module 50 lie in parallel laterally spaced vertical planes that extend in angular oblique relationship to a ss vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of terminal block 12. When viewed perpendicularly to their major surfaces, i.e., in the direction of the arrow 68 of Fig. ?, the two connectors 24 of each pair have overlapping side edge WO 93/07654 PC't'/US92/0~442 2~~0~40 ' portions. The aforesaid orientations of the connectors relative to each other and to base 14 contribute significantly to the compact construction of terminal block 12.
First and second laterally adjacent passageways 70 extend through the s front wall of each driver module 50 and into respective first anal second ones of the chambers 66 containing insulation displacing conrrec~ors 24. When a telecommunication craftsperson inserts first and second service wires 46 as far as they will go into respective first and second ones of the passageways 70 of a module 50 occupying its upper position, the leading ends of the customarily io black service wires extend into respective first and second ones of the module's chambers 66 and also into and through the entry openings 30 of respective first and second ones of the insulation displacing connectors 24 within chambers ~66. The transparent construction of the module permits visual verification of the position of the wires, particularly when the module is either colorless or of a is color other than black. When module 50 is moved downwardly from its upper position to its lower position, illustratively and preferably by rotation in the appropriate direction of thread-forming fastener 58, each service wire 46 is moved downwardly into and through the slot 32 of the associated connector 24 to its final position adjacent the lower end of the slot and wherein its inner 2o metallic conductor is in engagement with connector 24. The final position of a heavily insulated service wire 46 is below that of a lightly insulated wire.
This is due to the fact that a lightly insulated wire is not engaged and moved downwardly by the upper surface of the surrounding passageway 70 until after module 50 has moved downwardly a significant extent. As previously noted, 2s each heavily insulated service wire 46 is also impaled in its lowermost position by the impaling element 34 which resists axial pull-out of the service wire.
Movement of module 50 to its lower position effects engagement of the lower end of each barrier wall 90 of the module with the upper end of the barrier wall 20 of the underlying boss 18 of base 14. Such movement of module 50 so also downwardly displaces a component 72 thereof, best shown in Fig. 5, from its upper position shown in Fig. 3 to its lower position shown in Fig. 4. When . overvoftage protection is desired, the component 72 of each module contains a cylindrical overvoltage limiting device 74. Device 74 has first and second tip , and ring contacts 76 extending radially therefrom to locations respectively a5 adjacent first and second ones of the insulation displacing connectors 24.
Device 74 also has an arcuate ground contact 78 upon its cylindrical outer surface. As shown in Fig. 4, downward movement of component 72 and device WO 93/07654 PC'p'/US92/08442 74 brings tip and ring contacts 76 into engagement with respective ones of the projecting contacts 44 upon first and second ones of the connectors 24, and also brings the contact band 78 of device 74 into engagement with an upwardly extending arm 80 of a ground bus 81 that is mounted upon and extends s longitudinally of base 14. If for any reason overvoltage protection is not desired, a component 72 not having an overvoltage device may be~~ubstituted for the illustrated component 72. The unprotected component (not shown) preferably is of a color clearly different from that of the protected component. As is also shown in Fig. 5, the service wire passageways 70 of each driver module 50 are io defined in part by first and second channels 82 that extend through and open from the upper portion of module component 72 upon opposite sides of a vertically extending partition 83 that laterally separates the service wires within respective ones of the channels.
As is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, viscous protective sealant material 84, is which preferably is a gel of the type disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos.
4,634,207 and 4,864,725, is provided within and substantially fills the chambers 66, passageways 70 and the space about component 72 of each driver module 50.
In conjunction with barrier walls 20, 90, sealant 84 isolates the adjacent connectors 24 of a module 50 from each other and from the ambient 2o environment, particularly when the module 50 occupies its lower position.
Since the sealant 84 within the front lower part of module 50 then is closely adjacent base 14, such sealant and the underlying part of the base similarly isolate overvoltage limiting device 74 and the electrical contacts associated therewith from the ambient environment.
2s Movement of service wires 46 into and from a module disturbs the sealant material 84, particularly when the sealant is not a gel, and may cause the formation of voids in it. Voids substantially reduce the protection afforded by the sealant. The protection decreases in proportion to the number of re-entries, and in prior terminal blocks using nor-gel sealant may become deficient after a 3o relatively small number of reentries.
In order to eliminate or at feast substantially reduce the size of voids in the sealant material 84 within chambers 66, passageways 70 and other critical areas of driver module 50, the block is provided with sealant pump means. The pump means includes first and second sealant pump chambers 88 that extend ss upwardly through the bottom of each module 50 to an elevation at or (as shown) above that of service wire passageways 70, and that communicate with such passageways and through them with respective first and second ones of the WO 93/07654 Pf.T/US92/08442 220940 12 .
module's connector chambers 66. Chambers 88 contain reserve sealant material. Each chamber 88 has an arcuate rear wall that engages and conforms to the curvature of the arcuate front wall of the thereto adjacent post 56 upon base 14. The sealant pump means further includes first and second s pump piston elements 92 that extend upwardly from base 14 and, when the overlying module 50 occupies its lower position shown in~Flg. 4, into the open lower end portions of respective first and second ones of the module's pump chambers 88. Pump piston elements 92 each have peripheral front, rear and side surtaces that slidably and closely engage and conform to the shape of the io thereto confronting surtaces of the associated pump chamber 88.
After service wires 46 are inserted into an upwardly positioned module 50, downward movement of the module to its lower position of Fig. 4 causes pump piston elements 90 to enter the lower end portions of respective overlying ones of the module's pump chambers 88. This displaces reserve sealant 84 is from pump chambers 88 into connector chambers 66, passageways 70 and other module areas (including that containing overvoltage limiting device 74) communicating therewith. Such displacement compresses the sealant material within the aforesaid areas and thereby eliminates or at least reduces the size of any voids therein. This highly desirable result occurs automatically, whenever a 2o module 50 is re-entered, for as long as the pump chambers 88 contain sufficient reserve sealant.
When a driver module 50 occupies its lower position as shown in Fig. 4, the upper ends of the insulation displacing connectors 24 within respective ones of the module's~chambers 66 are below the upper end of the chambers 25 and the upper surtace of the sealant material 84 therein. A
telecommunications craftsperson attaching a test clip to the upper part of connector 24 therefore must insert an end of the test clip into the sealant material and, upon completion of the circuit testing, withdraw the test clip from such material. Withdrawal of the . test clip from association with a conventional insulation displacing connector, of so the type having an open upper end, may cause withdrawal of some of the sealant material. Removal of sealant material 84 by a test clip applied to the upper end of one of the present insulation displacement connectors 24 is less likely to occur since the upper edge portion 28 of the connector resists , movement of the sealant with the test clip as the clip is withdrawn.
35 Fig. 9 shows test clips 94 that engage the upper edge portion 28 of connectors 24 and that .each have a pin or tooth element 96 that extends into is 212Q~4~
the opening 30 of the associated connector. This minimizes the possibility of inadvertent slippage of test clips 94 from connectors 24.
As is also shown in Fig. 9, the upper edge portion of at least one (illustratively the leftmost one) of the two connector chambers 66 of each s module 50 preferably is provided wit's a sloping portion 98 which causes the test clip 94 secured thereto to extend «ngularly outwardly sway from the central axis of such chamber and away from the test clip secured to the other chamber of the module. This minimizes the possibility of contact between and shorting of the test clips.
io In addition to its previously discussed functions, the sealant material 84 surrounding and encapsulating overvoltage device 74 protects its previously sealed air gap (not shown) or itself act~~ as a dielectric when present in the gap.
Terms such as "upper," "lower," "vertically," "horizontally," etc., are used herein only in a relative sense, and not in an absolute sense. For instance, the is "upper" position may be considered an "open" position, and the "lower"
position may be considered a "closed" position.
Claim dependencies have been drafted to comply with PCT Rule 6.4, but it will be understood that, at least by virtue of this paragraph, any appropriate combination of the features disclosed andlor claimed herein is in 2o itself an embodiment of the invention, and it is intended to use multiple dependent claims in the national phase where permitted.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, this was for purposes of illustration only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being in accordance with the following 2s claims.
TEILECO(WMlJIdICATI~NS TERIVIINAL EL~CK
This invention relates to terminal blocks used by telecommunication companies to connect conductor wires of a multi-core cable to service wires that extend to customer residences or places of business. The invention more specifically relates to an improved terminal block of the type that contains is viscous sealant material.
A terminal block of the aforesaid type is usually mounted outdoors. Even Zo when surrounded by a protective housing, it is exposed to rain, snow, sleet, ice, temperat,~re fluctuations, dirt, insect infestation and similar conditions that may adversely affect the electrical connections between the service wires and electrical connectors, which may be of the insulation displacing type, within the blocks. To minimize incursion of foreign matter, viscous sealing material has 25 heretofore been provided within interior areas of prior art terminal blocks. The protection afforded by the sealant material usually is adequate for as long as the original connections between the service wires and the associated insulation displacing connectors remain undisturbed, but has heretofore rapidly decreased in proportion to the number of times that the connections are re-so entered (i.e, broken and reestablished) by a telecommunications craftsperson.
The decreasing protection is due to the fact that each re-entry displaces some of the sealant and causes the formation therein of voids that permit ingress of air, dirt, moisture, insects and the like. The use of sealant of the gel type minimizes the size of such voids but does not entirely eliminate their formation.
The present invention provides an improved telecommunications terminal block, of the type containing protective viscous sealant material, that is WO 93/07654 PCT/1JS92/~8442 21~t~'~40 of compact, durable and economical construction; can be re-entered a large number of times without significant decrease in the efficacy of the protection afforded by the sealant material; provides overvoltage protection when that is desired; and that can be readily installed and used by a craftsperson upon a s telephone pole or in other exposed locations to connect servile wires having a wide range of gauges.
in its preferred embodiment the terminal block includes an elongate base that is adapted to be secured to a telephone pole or other supportive structure, and further includes at least one and usually a plurality of driver modules that io are mounted upon the base in laterally adjacent relationship to each other for individual movement relative to the base between first (illustratively upper) and second (illustratively lower) positions respectively distal from and close to the base. A plurality of pairs of insulation displacing connectors, which may be and preferably are of a novel "inverted" type, projects upwardly from the base at is spaced intervals along its length. Lower portions of the connectors are pre-joined to appropriate ones of the wires of a multi-core cable that extends into an interior part of the base filled with conventional potting material. The sections of the paired first and second connectors projecting from the base extend into respective first and second connector for chambers of an overlying one of the ao driver modules upon the base. First and second pump chambers within the driver module communicate with respective ones of the connector chambers.
First and second passageways extending from an outer surface.of the module into the connector chambers direct the ends of first and second insulated service wires, that are inserted into and advanced longitudinally of such 25 passageways by a craftsperson while the module occupies its upper position, into respective first and second ones of the chambers and into entrance openings of respective first and second ones of the insulating displacing connectors within the chambers. Movement of the driver module from its upper position to its lower position displaces the two insulated service wires so downwardly into the connectors and establishes electrical contact with respective ones of them. In the case of heavily insulated service wires, the downward module movement also impales the insulation of the service wires upon retainer elements that resist their axial pull-out. The connector chambers, ., pump chambers and service wire passageways of each module contain 35 protective sealant material, which preferably is of the gel. type. When the module includes an overvoltage limiting device, the space within which it is located preferably also contains sealant material.
WO 93/07654 PC.T/US92/08442 2~.209~0 -Each entry of the module disturbs the sealant to some extent, and may create undesirable voids therein. Sealant pump means are provided to compensate for the sealant disturbance, and to eliminate or at least reduce the size of voids created thereby in the sealant. The pump means includes the first s and second sealant pump chambers in each driver module that communicate with respective first and second ones of the connector'chambers and the service wire passageways of the module, and that contain reserve sealant. The sealant pump means further includes pump piston elements that extend upwardly from the base of the terminal block into aligned ones of the pump io chambers of an overlying driver module upon movement of the modcle from its upper position to its lower position. The aforesaid pump means drives enough reserve sealant material from the pump chambers into the connector chambers and service wire passageways as to eliminate or at least reduce the size of any voids present therein by reason of prior re-entries. The downward module is movement also causes engagement of tip and ring contacts upon an overvoltage limiting device with spring contacts upon the insulation displacing connectors, and also establishes contact with a ground bus upon the base.
At least part of each driver module preferably is formed of transparent material permitting exterior viewing of interior components, such as the ao aforesaid overvoltage limiting device, and monitoring of the correct insertion of the insulated service wires within the connector chambers and connector members of such driver module.
Engageable and disengageable latch means, which includes cooperating latch elements upon each module and upon the base of the 2s terminal block, prevent inadvertent complete removal of a module from the base and provide tactile feedback of the module's arrival at its upper position.
Movement of the module from its lower position to its upper position aligns each service wire with a service wire entrance opening of an 'associated one of the connectors.
so ~To narrow their width and reduce costs, each module preferably is cantilever mounted upon the base, and is driven from its upper position to its lower position by a thread-forming screw that extends through a bore of a mounting chamber adjacent the rear end of the module, and then into an initially unthreaded underlying bore in the base of the terminal block. The se screw is sequestered from the sealant material within the module, and therefore does not shear or otherwise disturb the sealant.
Each of the insulation displacing connectors preferably is of an "inverted" type having an upper edge portion that extends between and interconnects upper ends of opposite side edge portions of the connector. A service wire entrance opening in adjacent underlying relationship to the aforesaid upper edge portion of the connector is adapted to initially receive, preferably at an angle of about 30°, the insulated service wire associated with the connector. Each service wire is displaced downwardly from the aforesaid entrance opening into and through a slot extending downwardly from the opening and having longitudinal sections of successively narrower width. Each connector preferably has, adjacent the lower end of the aforesaid slot, a retainer element that impales the insulation upon and thus resists axial pullout of a heavily insulated service wire, and further has a contact that is engaged by a contact of the overvoltage limiting device when the module occupies its lower position.
An upper edge portion of at least one of the two connector chambers of each driver module preferably has a section that slopes so as to cause a thereto connected test clip to extend angularly away from the chamber and from a test clip upon the adjacent chamber. This prevents shorting of the clips against each other.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications terminal block comprising: a base; a driver module; mounting means adjacent one end of said driver module, said mounting means cantilever mounting said driver module upon said base for movement relative to said base between first and second positions along a movement axis; said mounting means including a mounting post upon said base and a mounting portion of said driver module, said mounting post and mounting portion being movable relative 4a to each other, said mounting portion being configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while said driver module is moved between said first and second positions.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telecommunications terminal block comprising: a base including a mounting post; a driver module including a mounting portion and having a first position adjacent the base and a second position displaced from the base relative to the first position; a rotatable fastener cantilever mounting the driver module to the base adjacent one end of said driver module for movement of the driver module between the first and second positions along a movement axis; and wherein the mounting post and the mounting portion are movable relative to each other along the movement axis and wherein the mounting portion is configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while the driver module is moved between the first and second positions.
Description of the Drawin s FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a terminal block in accordance with the invention and of service wires extending into driver modules thereof, the rightmost driver module being shown in its upper position and the remaining driver modules being shown in their lower positions;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the terminal block;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 through the rightmost driver module of FIG. 1, which is shown in its upper position, the associated service wires being 4b shown at a location preliminary to their insertion into the module;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FTG. 3, but taken in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FTG. 1 and showing the driver module and service wires in their lower positions;
FIG. 5 is a front, right, top isometric view of the terminal block wherein the rightmost driver module and components thereof are shown in exploded relationship;
WO 9!07654 PCTf US92108442 ~120~40 FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a driver module;
FIG. 7 is a view showing at its left side a top plan view of a driver module, at its right side a top plan view of the part of the base underlying a driver module, and showing in its central portion and primarily in horizontal section s components of the driver module and some associated components carried by the base of the terminal block; ' F1G. 8 is a front elevational view of one of the insulation displacing connectors of the terminal block;
FIG. 9 is a laterally foreshortened view partially in elevation and partially io in vertical section of test clips secured to upper end portions of driver module connector chambers and therein disposed insulation displacing connectors;
FIGS. 10a, b, and c are fragmentary front eievational views of the insulation displacing connector of Fig. 8 showing sequential positions occupied by a heavily insulated service wire during movement thereof from an upper part i5 to a lower part of the connector;
FIGS. 11 a, b, and c are front elevational views of the connector of Fig. 8, showing sequential positions occupied by a lightly insulated service wire during movement thereof from an upper part to a lower part of the connector, and also showing a conductor of the multi-wire bundle within the base of the terminal 2o block;
FIG. 12 is a front elevational view shawing preferred dimensions and angulations of the illustrated insulation displacing connector;
FIG. 13 is a right side elevational view of the connector shown in Fig. 12;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged, front elevational view showing additional 2s preferred dimensions and angulations of that part of the connector within the area bordered by the phantom line A in Fig. 12;
FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view showing additional preferred dimensions of that part of the connector bordered by the phantom line S in Fig. 12;
so FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, showing additional preferred dimensions and taken in the direction of the arrows 18 through the connector of Fig. 12;
FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view, rotated 30° in a clockwise direction, showing additional preferred dimensions and taken approximately s5 along the line and in the direction of the arrows 17 through the connector of Fig.
12; and WO 93/0'1654 P(.'T/US92/Of3442 ~12Q~~~
FIG. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 17 but showing an alternative embodiment.
jZe~rir~tion of the Preferred Embodiment ~ __-The terminal block identified in its entirety in the drawings by the .numeral 12 includes an elongate base 14 that may be of any desired length. Base 14 illustratively extends horizontally and is of generally rectangular shape.
A.multi-io core cable 16 extends into a rearward section of base 14 from one end of the base. A plurality of bosses 18 projects upwardly from base 14 at laterally spaced locations along its length. Each boss 18 has a fow barrier wall 20 that extends transversely across a central part of the boss and rearwardly from it.
First and second slots 22 upon opposite sides of the wall 20 of each boss 18 is extend vertically through such boss and the upper wall of base 14. The first and second slots 22 within each boss 18 respectively lie in generally vertical first and second planes that extend i;~ substantially parallel transversely spaced relationship to each other, and in nonparallel relationship to a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of base 14.
2o First and second insulation displacing connectors 24 extend vertically through respective ones of the first and second slots 22 in each boss 18. Each connector 24 preferably is formed of beryllium copper alloy No. C17200 that has an extra hard temper and a minimum yield of 165 Ksi. The lower section of each connector 24 within base 14 is connected to an appropriate one of the 2s wires 16' of cable 16, after which the interior of the base is filled with a suitable potting material. This preferably is done at the location where bases 14 are fabricated.
As is best shown in Figs. .8, 10 and 11, the part of each connector 24 above base 14 has longitudinally extending opposite side edge portions 26 that sa constitute primary spring elements of the connector. Connector 24 further has an upper edge) portion 28 that interconnects the upper ends of side edge portions 26 and stiffens them to such an extent as to eliminate the need for "stop" members that limit outward movement of edge portions 26. A service wire entry opening 30 in adjacent underlying relationship to upper edge portion 35 28 extends transversely through each connector 24. Lower edge portions 31 of opening 30 have upwardly facing sharp cutting surfaces. A vertical slot 32 within the central part of connector 24 communicates at its upper end with opening 30 and extends downwardly from it. Slot 30 decreases in width from its upper to its tower end, and terminates above an upwardly extending impaling element 34 of the connector. The opposite sides of slot 32 are bordered by confronting edges of elongate secondary spring elements 38 that extend s downwardly in cantilever fashion from the upper part of connector 24, have free rounded lower ends, and are bordered along most of their length by a generally kidney-shaped opening 42 of connector 24. During use of connector 24, spring elements 26 and 38 undergo resilient lateral bending movement. The secondary spring elements 38 also undergo torsional flexure about their to longitudinal axes. A contact element 44 having a downwardly sloping upper surtace projects outwardly from each connector 24 below impaling element 34.
The illustrated connector 24 is particularly suited for use with insulated service wires ranging from eighteen and one-half gauge copper coated steel conductors through twenty-four gauge solid copper. It has a thickness of is twenty-thousandths of an inch.
The entry opening 30 of each connector 24 is adapted to receive service wires 46 as heavily insulated as that shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 10, or as lightly 2o insulated as that of the service wire shown in Fig. 11. Whether heavily or lightly insulated, the service wires 46 introduced into entry opening 30 of a connector 24 preferably define an entry angle with the cannector that is substantially less than 90° and preferably is about 30°.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 10a. 10b and 10c, the relatively heavy Zs insulation of the illustrated service wire 46 introduced into opening 30 and then moved downwardly therefrom is initially cut by the sharp edges 31 adjacent the bottom of opening 30. As service wire 46 is displaced downwardly into and through slot 32, the thereto adjacent confronting edges of secondary spring elements 38 engage, as shown in Fig. 10b, the central metal conductor of so service wire 46. Final downward movement of the service wire impales its insulation upon the impaling element 34 underlying slot 32, as shown in dig.
10c. Movement of the heavily insulated service wire 46 into and through slot deflects spring elements 26, 38 outwardly, and also causes torsional deflection of secondary spring elements 38. The torsional deflections of spring elements ss 38 contribute significantly to the fact that such elements are not strained beyond their elastic limits by passage of heavily insulated service wires 46 through slot 32. Upon return movement of service wire 46 upwardly to opening 30 the 4 PCT/US92/0~442 spring elements therefore resiliently return to their undeflected positions shown in Figs. 8 and 10a.
When the service wire 46 is relatively lightly insulated, such as shown in -Figs. 11 a, 11 b and 11 c, downward movement thereof from entry opening 30 s into slot 32 occurs with little if any engagement between wire 46 and sharp edges 31 of opening 30. Substantially all of the cutting of ttie insulation of the lightly insulated service wire is done by the confronting edges of secondary spring elements 38. The primary spring elements 26 undergo little if any deflection, and the lowermost positirn of the lightly insulated service wire 46 is to considerably above impaling element 34, as shown in Fig. 11c. Service wires having insulation of a size intermediate that of the illustratedyheavily and lightly insulated wires 46 will produce spring element deflections intermediate those produced by the wires shown in Figs. 10 and 11.
A plurality of driver modules 50 is mounted in laterally adjacent is relationship to each other along the length of base 14 for vertical movement relative to the illustratively horizontally extending base and to each other between a first, illustratively upper position and a second, illustratively lower position. The modules preferably are formed of transparent durable plastic such as LEXAN~. Each module 50 is cantilever mounted upon a rearward part 20 of base 14 by mounting means that includes a mounting chamber 54 within the rear part of the module, and an underlying mounting past 56 that extends upwardly from base 14 into the therewith vertically aligned chamber 54. The mounting means further includes a rotatable fastener 58, which illustratively and preferably is a thread-forming screw, having a driver head that overlies the 2s upper surtace of chamber 54. A threaded shank of fastener 58 extends through a bore 60 in the chamber's top wall, a captive washer 61 and into an initially unthreaded axially aligned bore within the post 56 underlying chamber 54.
Rotation of fastener 58 in the appropriate "tightening°' direction forms screw threads in the bore of post 56 and drives module 50 downwardly from its upper so position shown in Fig. 3 to its lower position, shown in Fig. 4, wherein the upper wall of chamber 54 abuts the upper surface of mounting post 56. Return upward movement of module 50 is effected, when desired, by reverse rotation of fastener 58. Canting or tilting of module 50 during and following vertical movement thereof is prevented by, among other things, engagement between 35 the exterior surtaces of mounting post 56 and the complementarily shaped confronting inner surfaces of mounting chamber 54.
WO 93/07654 9 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/US92/08442 Engageable and disengageable latch means prevent inadvertent removal of each driver module 50 from base 14, while permitting movement of the module relative to the base from the module's upper position shown in Fig.
3 to its lower position shown in Fig. 4. The latch means includes resilient latch s elements 62 that extend vertically in laterally spaced and generally parallel relationship to the front and rear surfaces of each module 50 and that are permanently connected intermediate their length to the module. The .latch means further includes cooperating latch elements 64 that are connected to and extend forvirardly and rearwardly from base 14. Curing initial installation of a io module 50 upon base 14, downward movement of the module causes the lower end of each latch element 62 to engage a sloping cam surface upon an underlying latch element 64. The elements 62 are rammed outwardly by such engagement, and then resiliently return to a position beneath latch element 64.
The latch elements 62, 64 then permit movement of the module 50 between its is upper position of Fig. 3 and its lower position of Fig. 4, but prevent inadvertent complete withdrawal of the module from base 14. The latches also provide tactile feedback, in the form of increased resistance to reverse rotation of screw 58, that lets a telecommunications craftsperson know when a module reaches its upper position. Tactile feedback of arrival of the module at its lower position 2o is provided by the then increased resistance to tightening rotation of fastener 58.
The first and second insulation displacing connectors 24 extending upwardly from each boss 18 upon base 14 are received within respective first and second laterally adjacent connector chambers 66 that extend vertically 2s through each module 50. The two chambers 66 are laterally separated from each other by a vertical barrier wall 90 best shown in Fig. 6. Wall 90 is formed of dielectric plastic material and overlies the wall 20 of the adjacent boss upon base 14. Chambers 66 are forwardly of and in noncommunicating relationship with the module chamber 54 through which fastener 58 extends.
so As i~ best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the width of each chamber 66 decreases with increasing distance from the lower end to the upper end of the connector 24 within the chamber. Adjacent its upper end each chamber 66 has a wider test port area 66a. The two connectors 24 within each module 50 lie in parallel laterally spaced vertical planes that extend in angular oblique relationship to a ss vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of terminal block 12. When viewed perpendicularly to their major surfaces, i.e., in the direction of the arrow 68 of Fig. ?, the two connectors 24 of each pair have overlapping side edge WO 93/07654 PC't'/US92/0~442 2~~0~40 ' portions. The aforesaid orientations of the connectors relative to each other and to base 14 contribute significantly to the compact construction of terminal block 12.
First and second laterally adjacent passageways 70 extend through the s front wall of each driver module 50 and into respective first anal second ones of the chambers 66 containing insulation displacing conrrec~ors 24. When a telecommunication craftsperson inserts first and second service wires 46 as far as they will go into respective first and second ones of the passageways 70 of a module 50 occupying its upper position, the leading ends of the customarily io black service wires extend into respective first and second ones of the module's chambers 66 and also into and through the entry openings 30 of respective first and second ones of the insulation displacing connectors 24 within chambers ~66. The transparent construction of the module permits visual verification of the position of the wires, particularly when the module is either colorless or of a is color other than black. When module 50 is moved downwardly from its upper position to its lower position, illustratively and preferably by rotation in the appropriate direction of thread-forming fastener 58, each service wire 46 is moved downwardly into and through the slot 32 of the associated connector 24 to its final position adjacent the lower end of the slot and wherein its inner 2o metallic conductor is in engagement with connector 24. The final position of a heavily insulated service wire 46 is below that of a lightly insulated wire.
This is due to the fact that a lightly insulated wire is not engaged and moved downwardly by the upper surface of the surrounding passageway 70 until after module 50 has moved downwardly a significant extent. As previously noted, 2s each heavily insulated service wire 46 is also impaled in its lowermost position by the impaling element 34 which resists axial pull-out of the service wire.
Movement of module 50 to its lower position effects engagement of the lower end of each barrier wall 90 of the module with the upper end of the barrier wall 20 of the underlying boss 18 of base 14. Such movement of module 50 so also downwardly displaces a component 72 thereof, best shown in Fig. 5, from its upper position shown in Fig. 3 to its lower position shown in Fig. 4. When . overvoftage protection is desired, the component 72 of each module contains a cylindrical overvoltage limiting device 74. Device 74 has first and second tip , and ring contacts 76 extending radially therefrom to locations respectively a5 adjacent first and second ones of the insulation displacing connectors 24.
Device 74 also has an arcuate ground contact 78 upon its cylindrical outer surface. As shown in Fig. 4, downward movement of component 72 and device WO 93/07654 PC'p'/US92/08442 74 brings tip and ring contacts 76 into engagement with respective ones of the projecting contacts 44 upon first and second ones of the connectors 24, and also brings the contact band 78 of device 74 into engagement with an upwardly extending arm 80 of a ground bus 81 that is mounted upon and extends s longitudinally of base 14. If for any reason overvoltage protection is not desired, a component 72 not having an overvoltage device may be~~ubstituted for the illustrated component 72. The unprotected component (not shown) preferably is of a color clearly different from that of the protected component. As is also shown in Fig. 5, the service wire passageways 70 of each driver module 50 are io defined in part by first and second channels 82 that extend through and open from the upper portion of module component 72 upon opposite sides of a vertically extending partition 83 that laterally separates the service wires within respective ones of the channels.
As is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, viscous protective sealant material 84, is which preferably is a gel of the type disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos.
4,634,207 and 4,864,725, is provided within and substantially fills the chambers 66, passageways 70 and the space about component 72 of each driver module 50.
In conjunction with barrier walls 20, 90, sealant 84 isolates the adjacent connectors 24 of a module 50 from each other and from the ambient 2o environment, particularly when the module 50 occupies its lower position.
Since the sealant 84 within the front lower part of module 50 then is closely adjacent base 14, such sealant and the underlying part of the base similarly isolate overvoltage limiting device 74 and the electrical contacts associated therewith from the ambient environment.
2s Movement of service wires 46 into and from a module disturbs the sealant material 84, particularly when the sealant is not a gel, and may cause the formation of voids in it. Voids substantially reduce the protection afforded by the sealant. The protection decreases in proportion to the number of re-entries, and in prior terminal blocks using nor-gel sealant may become deficient after a 3o relatively small number of reentries.
In order to eliminate or at feast substantially reduce the size of voids in the sealant material 84 within chambers 66, passageways 70 and other critical areas of driver module 50, the block is provided with sealant pump means. The pump means includes first and second sealant pump chambers 88 that extend ss upwardly through the bottom of each module 50 to an elevation at or (as shown) above that of service wire passageways 70, and that communicate with such passageways and through them with respective first and second ones of the WO 93/07654 Pf.T/US92/08442 220940 12 .
module's connector chambers 66. Chambers 88 contain reserve sealant material. Each chamber 88 has an arcuate rear wall that engages and conforms to the curvature of the arcuate front wall of the thereto adjacent post 56 upon base 14. The sealant pump means further includes first and second s pump piston elements 92 that extend upwardly from base 14 and, when the overlying module 50 occupies its lower position shown in~Flg. 4, into the open lower end portions of respective first and second ones of the module's pump chambers 88. Pump piston elements 92 each have peripheral front, rear and side surtaces that slidably and closely engage and conform to the shape of the io thereto confronting surtaces of the associated pump chamber 88.
After service wires 46 are inserted into an upwardly positioned module 50, downward movement of the module to its lower position of Fig. 4 causes pump piston elements 90 to enter the lower end portions of respective overlying ones of the module's pump chambers 88. This displaces reserve sealant 84 is from pump chambers 88 into connector chambers 66, passageways 70 and other module areas (including that containing overvoltage limiting device 74) communicating therewith. Such displacement compresses the sealant material within the aforesaid areas and thereby eliminates or at least reduces the size of any voids therein. This highly desirable result occurs automatically, whenever a 2o module 50 is re-entered, for as long as the pump chambers 88 contain sufficient reserve sealant.
When a driver module 50 occupies its lower position as shown in Fig. 4, the upper ends of the insulation displacing connectors 24 within respective ones of the module's~chambers 66 are below the upper end of the chambers 25 and the upper surtace of the sealant material 84 therein. A
telecommunications craftsperson attaching a test clip to the upper part of connector 24 therefore must insert an end of the test clip into the sealant material and, upon completion of the circuit testing, withdraw the test clip from such material. Withdrawal of the . test clip from association with a conventional insulation displacing connector, of so the type having an open upper end, may cause withdrawal of some of the sealant material. Removal of sealant material 84 by a test clip applied to the upper end of one of the present insulation displacement connectors 24 is less likely to occur since the upper edge portion 28 of the connector resists , movement of the sealant with the test clip as the clip is withdrawn.
35 Fig. 9 shows test clips 94 that engage the upper edge portion 28 of connectors 24 and that .each have a pin or tooth element 96 that extends into is 212Q~4~
the opening 30 of the associated connector. This minimizes the possibility of inadvertent slippage of test clips 94 from connectors 24.
As is also shown in Fig. 9, the upper edge portion of at least one (illustratively the leftmost one) of the two connector chambers 66 of each s module 50 preferably is provided wit's a sloping portion 98 which causes the test clip 94 secured thereto to extend «ngularly outwardly sway from the central axis of such chamber and away from the test clip secured to the other chamber of the module. This minimizes the possibility of contact between and shorting of the test clips.
io In addition to its previously discussed functions, the sealant material 84 surrounding and encapsulating overvoltage device 74 protects its previously sealed air gap (not shown) or itself act~~ as a dielectric when present in the gap.
Terms such as "upper," "lower," "vertically," "horizontally," etc., are used herein only in a relative sense, and not in an absolute sense. For instance, the is "upper" position may be considered an "open" position, and the "lower"
position may be considered a "closed" position.
Claim dependencies have been drafted to comply with PCT Rule 6.4, but it will be understood that, at least by virtue of this paragraph, any appropriate combination of the features disclosed andlor claimed herein is in 2o itself an embodiment of the invention, and it is intended to use multiple dependent claims in the national phase where permitted.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, this was for purposes of illustration only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being in accordance with the following 2s claims.
Claims (39)
1. A terminal block comprising:
(1) a base;
(2) an insulation displacing connector (IDC) secured to the base;
(3) a driver which can be moved relative to the IDC between an open position and a closed position; and (4) a passageway through which, when the driver is in the open position an insulated wire can be passed so that it is in the region of the IDC;
the components (1) to (4) being arranged so that when an insulated wire is passed through the passageway so that it is in the region of the IDC and the driver is moved from the open position to the closed position, the IDC
displaces the insulation on the insulated wire and makes electrical contact with the wire, said terminal block having at least one of the following characteristics:
(A) the IDC comprises an elongate metal body having opposite side edge portions, an upper edge portion interconnecting said side edge portions, a conductor inlet opening below said upper edge portion, and a slot communicating with and extending from said inlet opening, (B) the terminal block further comprises a connector chamber which contains sealant material, or into which sealant material can be placed, said sealant material protecting a connection made between the IDC and an insulated wire; and a pump for introducing sealant material into the chamber;
(C) the terminal block further comprises a mounting member which is mounted on the base as a cantilever and whose position can be changed to move the driver between the open and closed positions;
(D) the terminal block further comprises means for indicating when the driver has reached at least one of the open and closed positions;
(E) the base is rectangular and has a longitudinal axis;
first and second insulation displacing connectors are mounted on said base;
said first and second insulation displacing connectors respectively lie in first and second generally parallel laterally spaced planes that extend generally vertically, when the base is horizontal, in oblique relationship to a generally vertically extending plane containing said longitudinal axis of said base; and said first and second insulation displacing connectors have as viewed perpendicularly to said first and second planes, when the base is horizontal, overlapping side edge portions;
(F) the drive comprises an overvoltage limiting device.
(1) a base;
(2) an insulation displacing connector (IDC) secured to the base;
(3) a driver which can be moved relative to the IDC between an open position and a closed position; and (4) a passageway through which, when the driver is in the open position an insulated wire can be passed so that it is in the region of the IDC;
the components (1) to (4) being arranged so that when an insulated wire is passed through the passageway so that it is in the region of the IDC and the driver is moved from the open position to the closed position, the IDC
displaces the insulation on the insulated wire and makes electrical contact with the wire, said terminal block having at least one of the following characteristics:
(A) the IDC comprises an elongate metal body having opposite side edge portions, an upper edge portion interconnecting said side edge portions, a conductor inlet opening below said upper edge portion, and a slot communicating with and extending from said inlet opening, (B) the terminal block further comprises a connector chamber which contains sealant material, or into which sealant material can be placed, said sealant material protecting a connection made between the IDC and an insulated wire; and a pump for introducing sealant material into the chamber;
(C) the terminal block further comprises a mounting member which is mounted on the base as a cantilever and whose position can be changed to move the driver between the open and closed positions;
(D) the terminal block further comprises means for indicating when the driver has reached at least one of the open and closed positions;
(E) the base is rectangular and has a longitudinal axis;
first and second insulation displacing connectors are mounted on said base;
said first and second insulation displacing connectors respectively lie in first and second generally parallel laterally spaced planes that extend generally vertically, when the base is horizontal, in oblique relationship to a generally vertically extending plane containing said longitudinal axis of said base; and said first and second insulation displacing connectors have as viewed perpendicularly to said first and second planes, when the base is horizontal, overlapping side edge portions;
(F) the drive comprises an overvoltage limiting device.
2. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said pump includes a pump chamber within said driver, said pump chamber being in spaced adjacent relationship to said connector chamber and containing a reserve supply of said sealant material.
3. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said pump includes a sealant pump element upon said base.
4. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said pump includes a pump element upon said base that engages and undergoes sliding movement relative to a pump chamber of a confronting surface of said driver during movement of said driver relative to said base.
5. A terminal block as in Claim 1, and further including engageable and disengageable latch means for releasably securing said driver in said open position thereof.
6. A terminal block as in Claim 1, and further including driver moving means for moving said driver from said open position to said closed position, said driver moving means being spaced from said connector chamber of said module.
7. A terminal block as in Claim 1, and further including engageable and disengageable latch means for, when engaged, preventing removal of said driver from said base.
8. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein a vertical plane containing said insulation displacing connector and a vertical plane containing the central axis of said base of said driver extend in oblique angular relationship to each other at an angle of about 30°.
9. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said overvoltage limiting device has a contact engageable with said connector upon movement of said driver to said closed position thereof.
10. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said driver is formed at least in part of transparent material permitting exterior viewing of the interior thereof.
11. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said base has an upwardly extending boss thereon, and said insulation displacing connector extends through and upwardly from said boss.
12. A terminal block as in Claim 1, and further including a thread-forming fastener for driving said driver to said closed position thereof.
13. A terminal block as in Claim 12, further comprising a mounting post upon said base, said base having a bore into which said fastener extends and forms screw threads.
14. A terminal as in Claim 13, further comprising a mounting chamber in said driver that closely receives said mounting post and has interior surfaces in sliding engagement with confronting exterior surfaces of said mounting post, said engagement preventing significant canting of said driver during movement thereof between said open and closed positions.
15. A terminal block as in Claim 1, and further including aligned bores within said driver and said base, and a thread-forming fastener extending into said bores and effective upon tightening rotation thereof to drive said driver downwardly to said closed position thereof.
16. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said IDC further comprises a conductor impaling element.
17. A terminal block as in Claim 16, wherein said impaling element is adjacent an end of said slot.
18. A terminal block as in Claim 1, wherein said side edge portions constitute primary spring elements, and further including first and second secondary spring elements bordering first and second opposite sides of said slot.
19. A terminal block as in Claim 18, wherein each of said secondary spring elements each has a first end connected to the main body of said connector, and extends in cantilever fashion from said first end thereof to an opposite free end thereof.
20. A terminal block as in claim 1 wherein said slot in said insulation displacing connector decreases in width with increasing distance from said inlet opening.
21. A terminal block as in Claim 20, wherein said slot has discrete sections along the length thereof of progressively decreasing width.
22. A terminal block as in Claim 1, and further including dielectric sealant material about said overvoltage limiting device.
23. A telecommunications terminal block comprising:
a base;
a driver module;
mounting means adjacent one end of said driver module, said mounting means cantilever mounting said driver module upon said base for movement relative to said base between first and second positions along a movement axis;
said mounting means including a mounting post upon said base and a mounting portion of said driver module, said mounting post and mounting portion being movable relative to each other, said mounting portion being configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while said driver module is moved between said first and second positions.
a base;
a driver module;
mounting means adjacent one end of said driver module, said mounting means cantilever mounting said driver module upon said base for movement relative to said base between first and second positions along a movement axis;
said mounting means including a mounting post upon said base and a mounting portion of said driver module, said mounting post and mounting portion being movable relative to each other, said mounting portion being configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while said driver module is moved between said first and second positions.
24. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 23 wherein the mounting post includes exterior surfaces and wherein the mounting portion includes inner surfaces slidably engaging at least two portions of the exterior surfaces of the mounting post to limit canting movement of the driver module.
25. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 24 wherein the mounting means further comprises a rotatable fastener cantilever mounting the driver module upon the base.
26. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 25 wherein the rotatable fastener is a thread-forming fastener.
27. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 24 wherein the mounting means further comprises a bore in the mounting post into which the rotatable fastener extends and engages screw threads.
28. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 25 further comprising:
an insulation displacing connector extending upwardly from said base and having an entry opening for receiving an insulated wire conductor;
a connector chamber in the driver module into which the insulation displacing connector extends and a passageway for passing the insulated wire conductor into said connector chamber, wherein said passageway extends from an opening on a face of the driver module displaced from the one end; and wherein the insulation displacing connector is positioned within the connector chamber between the face of the driver module and the rotatable fastener.
an insulation displacing connector extending upwardly from said base and having an entry opening for receiving an insulated wire conductor;
a connector chamber in the driver module into which the insulation displacing connector extends and a passageway for passing the insulated wire conductor into said connector chamber, wherein said passageway extends from an opening on a face of the driver module displaced from the one end; and wherein the insulation displacing connector is positioned within the connector chamber between the face of the driver module and the rotatable fastener.
29. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 28 wherein the driver module includes a test port on an upper surface thereof and wherein the insulation displacing connector includes an upper edge portion positioned adjacent the test port in the lower position to make electrical contact with a test clip inserted in the test port.
30. A telecommunications terminal block comprising:
a base including a mounting post;
a driver module including a mounting portion and having a first position adjacent the base and a second position displaced from the base relative to the first position;
a rotatable fastener cantilever mounting the driver module to the base adjacent one end of said driver module for movement of the driver module between the first and second positions along a movement axis; and wherein the mounting post and the mounting portion are movable relative to each other along the movement axis and wherein the mounting portion is configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while the driver module is moved between the first and second positions.
a base including a mounting post;
a driver module including a mounting portion and having a first position adjacent the base and a second position displaced from the base relative to the first position;
a rotatable fastener cantilever mounting the driver module to the base adjacent one end of said driver module for movement of the driver module between the first and second positions along a movement axis; and wherein the mounting post and the mounting portion are movable relative to each other along the movement axis and wherein the mounting portion is configured to limit canting movement of the driver module relative to the movement axis while the driver module is moved between the first and second positions.
31. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 30 wherein the mounting post includes exterior surfaces and wherein the mounting portion includes inner surfaces slidably engaging at least two portions of the exterior surfaces of the mounting post to limit canting movement of the driver module.
32. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 31 wherein the rotatable fastener is a thread-forming fastener.
33. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 31 further comprising a bore in the mounting post into which the rotatable fastener extends and engages screw threads.
34. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 31 further comprising:
a first insulation displacing connector extending upwardly from said base and having an entry opening for receiving an insulated wire conductor;
a connector chamber in the driver module into which the insulation displacing connector extends and a passageway for passing the insulated wire conductor into said connector chamber, wherein said passageway extends from an opening on a face of the driver module displaced from the one end; and wherein the insulation displacing connector is positioned within the connector chamber between the face of the driver module and the rotatable fastener.
a first insulation displacing connector extending upwardly from said base and having an entry opening for receiving an insulated wire conductor;
a connector chamber in the driver module into which the insulation displacing connector extends and a passageway for passing the insulated wire conductor into said connector chamber, wherein said passageway extends from an opening on a face of the driver module displaced from the one end; and wherein the insulation displacing connector is positioned within the connector chamber between the face of the driver module and the rotatable fastener.
35. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 34 wherein the driver module further includes an overvoltage limiting element having a contact engageable with the insulation displacing connector in the first position.
36. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 34 wherein the base further includes an interior chamber in which a wire is electrically connected to the insulation displacing connector, the interior chamber including a potting material around the connection between the wire and the insulation displacing connector.
37. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 34 wherein the driver module includes a test port on an upper Surface thereof and wherein the insulation displacing connector includes an upper edge portion positioned adjacent the test port in the lower position to make electrical contact with a test clip inserted in the test port.
38. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 34 further comprising:
a second insulation displacing connector extending upwardly from said base adjacent the first insulation displacing connector and having an entry opening for receiving a second insulated wire conductor, the second insulation displacing connector being positioned in the connector chamber;
a second passageway in the driver module for passing the second insulated wire conductor into the connector chamber, wherein the second passageway extends from an opening on the face of the driver; and wherein the second insulation displacing conductor is positioned within the connector chamber between the face of the driver module and the rotatable fastener.
a second insulation displacing connector extending upwardly from said base adjacent the first insulation displacing connector and having an entry opening for receiving a second insulated wire conductor, the second insulation displacing connector being positioned in the connector chamber;
a second passageway in the driver module for passing the second insulated wire conductor into the connector chamber, wherein the second passageway extends from an opening on the face of the driver; and wherein the second insulation displacing conductor is positioned within the connector chamber between the face of the driver module and the rotatable fastener.
39. The telecommunications terminal block of claim 38 further comprising a plastic barrier wall dividing the connector chamber, the insulation displacing connectors being positioned on opposite sides of the barrier wall.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US77650191A | 1991-10-11 | 1991-10-11 | |
| US776,501 | 1991-10-11 | ||
| PCT/US1992/008442 WO1993007654A1 (en) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-10-05 | Telecommunications terminal block |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2120940A1 CA2120940A1 (en) | 1993-04-15 |
| CA2120940C true CA2120940C (en) | 2003-12-09 |
Family
ID=25107551
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002120940A Expired - Lifetime CA2120940C (en) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-10-05 | Telecommunications terminal block |
Country Status (16)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (2) | EP0871242A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3321164B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100281339B1 (en) |
| CN (1) | CN1041258C (en) |
| AR (1) | AR247315A1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE176089T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU674132B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9203950A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2120940C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69228261T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK0685119T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2126603T3 (en) |
| IL (1) | IL103366A0 (en) |
| MX (1) | MX9205844A (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ244633A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993007654A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (21)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5359654A (en) * | 1992-05-12 | 1994-10-25 | Raychem Corporation | Telecommunications network interface assembly |
| GB9313281D0 (en) * | 1993-06-28 | 1993-08-11 | Amp Gmbh | Sealed insulation displacement connector |
| DE59407677D1 (en) * | 1993-06-29 | 1999-03-04 | Krone Ag | Connection module |
| FR2708794B1 (en) * | 1993-08-04 | 1995-09-15 | Pouyet Int | Quick interconnection module for two monopolar telephone lines. |
| US5449299A (en) * | 1994-01-24 | 1995-09-12 | Raychem Corporation | Telecommunications terminal |
| TW331046B (en) * | 1994-09-29 | 1998-05-01 | Whitaker Corp | Electrical connector for telecommunications |
| EP0805825B1 (en) * | 1995-01-27 | 2000-08-23 | TYCO Electronics Corporation | Gels from anhydride-containing polymers |
| ES2160147T3 (en) * | 1995-09-22 | 2001-11-01 | Pouyet Internat | CUTTING AND TESTING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONE LINE. |
| FR2760135B1 (en) * | 1997-02-26 | 1999-05-14 | Schneider Electric Sa | ELECTRICAL CONNECTION DEVICE |
| GB2323482B (en) * | 1997-03-19 | 2001-11-14 | Egerton A C Ltd | Electrical terminal |
| GB9803076D0 (en) | 1997-04-09 | 1998-04-08 | Egerton A C Ltd | Telecommunication apparatus |
| FR2770043B1 (en) * | 1997-10-21 | 1999-12-10 | Pouyet Sa | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INJECTING A SEALING GEL OR GREASE INTO A RECEPTION CAVITY OF AT LEAST ONE WIRE OR ELECTRICAL PLUG |
| FR2770037B1 (en) * | 1997-10-21 | 1999-12-17 | Pouyet Sa | INTERCONNECTION MODULE FOR TWO MONOPARY LINES |
| DE29802412U1 (en) * | 1998-02-13 | 1998-05-14 | Phoenix Contact Gmbh & Co., 32825 Blomberg | Cutting connector |
| EP1043735A1 (en) * | 1999-04-05 | 2000-10-11 | Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. | A coil device and a method for connecting such a coil device |
| US6971897B1 (en) | 2003-10-29 | 2005-12-06 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Gel-filled telephone jack |
| DE102005029012B3 (en) * | 2005-06-21 | 2006-12-28 | Adc Gmbh | Protective plug connector for distribution device, has clamping contacts lying in plane and another clamping contact arranged in parallely shifted plane, such that insertion aid is clamped and fixed between contacts and units of housing |
| DE202009010246U1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2009-10-01 | Harting Electric Gmbh & Co. Kg | Connection device for a multi-core electrical cable |
| JP7348212B2 (en) | 2018-06-27 | 2023-09-20 | デーン エスエー | Device combination for protecting electrical networks from overvoltages or overcurrents |
| DE102018118807A1 (en) * | 2018-06-27 | 2020-01-02 | Dehn Se + Co Kg | Device combination for protecting electrical networks against overvoltages or overcurrents |
| CN113300149A (en) * | 2021-06-07 | 2021-08-24 | 广东电网有限责任公司 | Connecting terminal box cover connecting structure |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES198365Y (en) * | 1970-04-08 | 1975-11-01 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson | IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN TERMINAL BLOCKS FOR INSULATED CONDUCTOR SLIT CONNECTION. |
| US4037905A (en) * | 1974-01-21 | 1977-07-26 | Ideal Industries, Inc. | No-strip electrical connector |
| US4645285A (en) * | 1985-08-26 | 1987-02-24 | Amp Incorporated | Sealed insulation displacement connector |
| EP0237141A3 (en) * | 1986-03-12 | 1988-08-10 | Nortel Networks Corporation | Cable terminal connector with insulation displacing terminals |
| US4729059A (en) * | 1986-08-14 | 1988-03-01 | Wang Chen H | Telephone connection box |
| DE3711675A1 (en) * | 1987-04-07 | 1988-10-27 | Krone Ag | CORE CONNECTOR FOR CABLE CORDS, ESPECIALLY TELECOMMUNICATION CABLES |
| US4846720A (en) * | 1987-12-23 | 1989-07-11 | Song Jae C | Balun trans and feeder line connecting device of antenna matching adapter for television set |
| US4952169A (en) * | 1989-06-27 | 1990-08-28 | Amp Incorporated | Sealed electrical connector employing insulation displacement terminals |
| US4954098A (en) * | 1989-11-01 | 1990-09-04 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Sealed insulation displacement connector |
| US5021004A (en) * | 1990-07-26 | 1991-06-04 | Amp Incorporated | Secondary latch for pin connector |
| US5080606A (en) * | 1990-11-05 | 1992-01-14 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Stacked in-line insulation displacement connector |
-
1992
- 1992-10-05 AT AT92922043T patent/ATE176089T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-10-05 ES ES92922043T patent/ES2126603T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-10-05 EP EP98201838A patent/EP0871242A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1992-10-05 KR KR1019940701193A patent/KR100281339B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-10-05 WO PCT/US1992/008442 patent/WO1993007654A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1992-10-05 JP JP50710193A patent/JP3321164B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-10-05 CA CA002120940A patent/CA2120940C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-10-05 DK DK92922043T patent/DK0685119T3/en active
- 1992-10-05 DE DE69228261T patent/DE69228261T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-10-05 EP EP92922043A patent/EP0685119B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-10-05 AU AU28683/92A patent/AU674132B2/en not_active Expired
- 1992-10-06 NZ NZ244633A patent/NZ244633A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-10-06 IL IL103366A patent/IL103366A0/en unknown
- 1992-10-09 AR AR92323398A patent/AR247315A1/en active
- 1992-10-09 BR BR929203950A patent/BR9203950A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-10-09 MX MX9205844A patent/MX9205844A/en unknown
- 1992-10-10 CN CN92112838A patent/CN1041258C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| IL103366A0 (en) | 1993-03-15 |
| WO1993007654A1 (en) | 1993-04-15 |
| KR100281339B1 (en) | 2001-02-01 |
| EP0685119B1 (en) | 1999-01-20 |
| AU674132B2 (en) | 1996-12-12 |
| JPH07500214A (en) | 1995-01-05 |
| DK0685119T3 (en) | 1999-09-13 |
| CN1041258C (en) | 1998-12-16 |
| BR9203950A (en) | 1993-04-27 |
| ES2126603T3 (en) | 1999-04-01 |
| EP0871242A1 (en) | 1998-10-14 |
| JP3321164B2 (en) | 2002-09-03 |
| AU2868392A (en) | 1993-05-03 |
| CN1073552A (en) | 1993-06-23 |
| EP0685119A1 (en) | 1995-12-06 |
| MX9205844A (en) | 1993-09-01 |
| NZ244633A (en) | 1995-09-26 |
| AR247315A1 (en) | 1994-11-30 |
| DE69228261D1 (en) | 1999-03-04 |
| ATE176089T1 (en) | 1999-02-15 |
| DE69228261T2 (en) | 1999-08-12 |
| EP0685119A4 (en) | 1995-06-22 |
| CA2120940A1 (en) | 1993-04-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |